derues- 第7部分

About　a　mile　from　Villeneuve…le…Roi…les…Sens；　there　stood　in　1775　a　handsome　house；　overlooking　the　windings　of　the　Yonne　on　one　side；　and　on　the　other　a　garden　and　park　belonging　to　the　estate　of　Buisson…Souef。　　It　was　a　large　property；　admirably　situated；　and　containing　productive　fields；　wood；　and　water；　but　not　everywhere　kept　in　good　order；　and　showing　something　of　the　embarrassed　fortune　of　its　owner。　　During　some　years　the　only　repairs　had　been　those　necessary　in　the　house　itself　and　its　immediate　vicinity。　　Here　and　there　pieces　of　dilapidated　wall　threatened　to　fall　altogether；　and　enormous　stems　of　ivy　had　invaded　and　stifled　vigorous　trees；　in　the　remoter　portions　of　the　park　briers　barred　the　road　and　made　walking　almost　impossible。　　This　disorder　was　not　destitute　of　charm；　and　at　an　epoch　when　landscape　gardening　consisted　chiefly　in　straight　alleys；　and　in　giving　to　nature　a　cold　and　monotonous　symmetry；　one's　eye　rested　with　pleasure　on　these　neglected　clumps；　on　these　waters　which　had　taken　a　different　course　to　that　which　art　had　assigned　to　them；　on　these　unexpected　and　picturesque　scenes。

A　wide　terrace；　overlooking　the　winding　river；　extended　along　the　front　of　the　house。　　Three　men　were　walking　on　it…two　priests；　and　the　owner　of　Buisson…Souef；　Monsieur　de　Saint…Faust　de　Lamotte。　　One　priest　was　the　cure　of　Villeneuve…le…Roi…lez…Sens；　the　other　was　a　Camaldulian　monk；　who　had　come　to　see　the　cure　about　a　clerical　matter；　and　who　was　spending　some　days　at　the　presbytery。　　The　conversation　did　not　appear　to　be　lively。　　Every　now　and　then　Monsieur　de　Lamotte　stood　still；　and；　shading　his　eyes　with　his　hand　from　the　brilliant　sunlight　which　flooded　the　plain；　and　was　strongly　reflected　from　the　water；　endeavoured　to　see　if　some　new　object　had　not　appeared　on　the　horizon；　then　slowly　resumed　his　walk　with　a　movement　of　uneasy　impatience。　　The　tower　clock　struck　with　a　noisy　resonance。

〃Six　o'clock　already！〃　he　exclaimed。　　〃They　will　assuredly　not　arrive　to…day。〃

〃Why　despair？〃　said　the　cure。　　〃Your　servant　has　gone　to　meet　them；　we　might　see　their　boat　any　moment。〃

〃But；　my　father；〃　returned　Monsieur　de　Lamotte；　〃the　long　days　are　already　past。　　In　another　hour　the　mist　will　rise；　and　then　they　would　not　venture　on　the　river。〃

〃Well；　if　that　happens；　we　shall　have　to　be　patient；　they　will　stay　all　night　at　some　little　distance；　and　you　will　see　them　to…morrow　morning。〃

〃My　brother　is　right；〃　said　the　other　priest。　　〃Come；　monsieur；　do　not　be　anxious。〃

〃You　both　speak　with　the　indifference　of　persons　to　whom　family　troubles　are　unknown。〃

〃What！〃　said　the　cure；　〃do　you　really　think　that　because　our　sacred　profession　condemns　us　both　to　celibacy；　we　are　therefore　unable　to　comprehend　an　affection　such　as　yours；　on　which　I　myself　pronounced　the　hallowing　benediction　of　the　Churchif　you　remembernearly　fifteen　years　ago？〃

〃Is　it　perhaps　intentionally；　my　father；　that　you　recall　the　date　of　my　marriage？　　I　readily　admit　that　the　love　of　one's　neighbour　may　enlighten　you　as　to　another　love　to　which　you　have　yourself　been　a　stranger。　　I　daresay　it　seems　odd　to　you　that　a　man　of　my　age　should　be　anxious　about　so　little；　as　though　he　were　a　love…sick　youth；　but　for　some　time　past　I　have　had　presentiments　of　evil；　and　I　am　really　becoming　superstitious！〃

He　again　stood　still；　gazing　up　the　river；　and；　seeing　nothing；　resumed　his　place　between　the　two　priests；　who　had　continued　their　walk。

〃Yes；〃　he　continued；　〃I　have　presentiments　which　refuse　to　be　shaken　off。　　I　am　not　so　old　that　age　can　have　weakened　my　powers　and　reduced　me　to　childishness；　I　cannot　even　say　what　I　am　afraid　of；　but　separation　is　painful　and　causes　an　involuntary　terror。　　Strange；　is　it　not？　　Formerly；　I　used　to　leave　my　wife　for　months　together；　when　she　was　young　and　my　son　only；　an　infant；　I　loved　her　passionately；　yet　I　could　go　with　pleasure。　　Why；　I　wonder；　is　it　so　different　now？　　Why　should　a　journey　to　Paris　on　business；　and　a　few　hours'　delay；　make；　me　so　terribly　uneasy？　　Do　you　remember；　my　father；〃　he　resumed；　after　a　pause；　turning　to　the　cure；〃　do　you　remember　how　lovely　Marie　looked　on　our　wedding…day？　　Do　you　remember　her　dazzling　complexion　and　the　innocent　candour　of　her　expression？…　…the　sure　token　of　the　most　truthful　and　purest　of　minds！　　That　is　why　I　love　her　so　much　now；　we　do　not　now　sigh　for　one　another；　but　the　second　love　is　stronger　than　the　first；　for　it　is　founded　on　recollection；　and　is　tranquil　and　confident　in　friendship　。　　。　　。　　。　It　is　strange　that　they　have　not　returned；　something　must　have　happened！　　If　they　do　not　return　this　evening；　and　I　do　not　now　think　it　possible；　I　shall　go　to　Paris　myself　to…morrow。〃

〃I　think；〃　said　the　other　priest；　〃that　at　twenty　you　must　indeed　have　been　excitable；　a　veritable　tinder…box；　to　have　retained　so　much　energy！　　Come；　monsieur；　try　to　calm　yourself　and　have　patience：　you　yourself　admit　it　can　only　be　a　few　hours'　delay。〃

〃But　my　son　accompanied　his　mother；　and　he　is　our　only　one；　and　so　delicate！　　He　alone　remains　of　our　three　children；　and　you　do　not　realise　how　the　affection　of　parents　who　feel　age　approaching　is　concentrated　on　an　only　child！　　If　I　lost　Edouard　I　should　die！〃

〃I　suppose；　then；　as　you　let　him　go；　his　presence　at　Paris　was　necessary？〃

〃No；　his　mother　went　to　obtain　a　loan　which　is　needed　for　the　improvements　required　on　the　estate。〃

〃Why；　then；　did　you　let　him　go？〃

〃I　would　willingly　have　kept　him　here；　but　his　mother　wished　to　take　him。　　A　separation　is　as　trying　to　her　as　to　me；　and　we　all　but　quarrelled　over　it。　　I　gave　way。〃

〃There　was　one　way　of　satisfying　all　threeyou　might　have　gone　also。〃

〃Yes；　but　Monsieur　le　cure　will　tell　you　that　a　fortnight　ago　I　was　chained　to　my　arm…chair；　swearing　under　my　breath　like　a　pagan；　and　cursing　the　follies　of　my　youth！Forgive　me；　my　father；　I　mean　that　I　had　the　gout；　and　I　forgot　that　I　am　not　the　only　sufferer；　and　that　it　racks　the　old　age　of　the　philosopher　quite　as　much　as　that　of　the　courtier。〃

The　fresh　wind　which　often　rises　just　at　sunset　was　already　rustling　in　the　leaves；　long　shadows　darkened　the　course　of　the　Yonne　and　stretched　across　the　plain；　the　water；　slightly　troubled；　reflected　a　confused　outline　of　its　banks　and　the　clouded　blue　of　the　sky。　　The　three　gentlemen　stopped　at　the　end　of　the　terrace　and　gazed　into　the　already　fading　distance。　　A　black　spot；　which　they　had　just　observed　in　the　middle　of　the　river；　caught　a　gleam　of　light　in　passing　a　low　meadow　between　two　hills；　and　for　a　moment　took　shape　as　a　barge；　then　was　lost　again；　and　could　not　be　distinguished　from　the　water。　Another　moment；　and　it　reappeared　more　distinctly；　it　was　indeed　a　barge；　and　now　the　horse　could　be　seen　towing　it　against　the　current。　Again　it　was　lost　at　a　bend　of　the　river　shaded　by　willows；　and　they　had　to　resign　themselves　to　incertitude　for　several　minutes。　　Then　a　white　handkerchief　was　waved　on　the　prow　of　the　boat；　and　Monsieur　de　Lamotte　uttered　a　joyful　exclamation。

〃It　is　indeed　they！〃　he　cried。　　〃Do　you　see　them；　Monsieur　le　cure？　I　see　my　boy；　he　is　waving　the　handkerchief；　and　his　mother　is　with　him。　　But　I　think　there　is　a　third　personyes；　there　is　a　man；　is　there　not？　　Look　well。〃

〃Indeed；〃　said　the　cure；　〃if　my　bad　sight　does　not　deceive　me；　I　should　say　there　was　someone　seated　near　the　rudder；　but　it　looks　like　a　child。〃

〃Probably　someone　from　the　neighbourhood；　who　has　profited　by　the　chance　of　a　lift　home。〃

The　boat　was　advancing　rapidly；　they　could　now　hear　the　cracking　of　the　whip　with　which　the　servant　urged　on　the　tow…horse。　　And　now　it　stopped；　at　an　easy　landing…place；　barely　fifty　paces　from　the　terrace。　　Madame　de　Lamotte　landed　with　her　son　and　the　stranger；　and　her　husband　descended　from　the　terrace　to　meet　her。　　Long　before　he　arrived　at　the　garden　gate；　his　son's　arms　were　around　his　neck。

〃Are　you　quite　well；　Edouard　？〃

〃Oh　yes；　perfectly。〃

〃And　your　mother？〃

〃Quite　well　too。　　She　is　behind；　in　as　great　a　hurry　to　meet　you　as　I　am。　　But　she　can't　run　as　I　do；　and　you　must　go　half…way。〃

〃Whom　have　you　brought　with　you？〃

〃A　gentleman　from　Paris。〃

〃From　Paris？〃

〃Yes；　a　Monsieur　Derues。　　But　mamma　will　tell　you　all　about　that。　Here　she　is。〃

The　cure　and　the　monk　arrived　just　as　Monsieur　de　Lamotte　folded　his　wife　in　his　arms。　　Although　she　had　passed　her　fortieth　year；　she　was　still　beautiful　enough　to　justify　her　husband's　eulogism。　　A　moderate　plumpness　had　preserved　the　freshness　and　softness　of　her　skin；　her　smile　was　charming；　and　her　large　blue　eyes　expressed　both　gentleness　and　goodness。　　Seen　beside　this　smiling　and　serene　countenance；　the　appearance　of　the　stranger　was　downright　repulsive；　and　Monsieur　de　Lamotte　could　hardly　repress　a　start　of　disagreeable　surprise　at　the　pitiful　and　sordid　aspect　of　this　diminutive　person；　who　stood　apart；　looking　overwhelmed　by　conscious　inferiority。　　He　was　still　more　astonished　when　he　saw　his　son　take　him　by　the　hand　with　friendly　kindness；　and　heard　him　say

〃Will　you　come　with　me；　my　friend？　　We　will　follow　my　father　and　mother。〃

Madame　de　Lamotte；　having　greeted　the　cure；　looked　at　the　monk；　who　was　a　stranger　to　her。　　A　word　or　two　explained　matters；　and　she　took　her　husband's　arm；　declining　to　answer　any　questions　until　she　reached　the　louse；　and　laughing　at　his　curiosity。

Pierre…Etienne　de　Saint…Faust　de　Lamotte；　one　of　the　king's　equerries；　seigneur　of　Grange…Flandre；　Valperfond；　etc。；　had　married　Marie…Francoise　Perier　in　1760。　　Their　fortune　resembled　many　others　of　that　period：　it　was　more　nominal　than　actual；　more　showy　than　solid。　　Not　that　the　husband　and　wife　had　any　cause　for　self…reproach；　or　that　their　estates　had　suffered　from　dissipation；　unstained　by　the　corrupt　manners　of　the　period；　their　union　had　been　a　model　of　sincere　affection；　of　domestic　virtue　and　mutual　confidence。　　Marie…Francoise　was　quite　beautiful　enough　to　have　made　a　sensation　in　society；　but　she　renounced　it　of　her　own　accord；　in　order　to　devote　herself　to　the　duties　of　a　wife　and　mother。　　The　only　serious　grief　she　and　her　husband　had　experienced　was　the　loss　of　two　young　children。　　Edouard；　though　delicate　from　his　birth；　had　nevertheless　passed　the　try